BODHI DAY MEDITATION

Bodhi Day (Buddha's Enlightenment Day)! 

Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 9 p.m.

Registration by December 5, 2024 in order to get Zoom Link.

Via ZOOM

Bodhi Day is a holiday which falls on December 8th and celebrates the day in which Siddhartha Gautama sat underneath the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment. This one defining moment would become the central foundation upon which Buddhism has been built for almost 2,600 years. It is a day on which followers can renew their dedication to Buddhism; reaffirm themselves to enlightenment, compassion, and kindness to other living creatures; and also understand the relevance of this religion as it applies to the modern world.

Bodhi Day can be celebrated in a number of different ways. Often, Buddhist homes will have ficus religiosa trees that they decorate with beads and multi-coloured lights – much in the same way that Christians decorate their Christmas trees. They will also put on reflective ornaments that represent the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Some people will spend the night meditating on the life of Buddha, until the morning star.

Here, at the Hermitage, we will have a 3-hour sitting.

During ZOOM it is suggested that you have your water/tea with you during the sitting.  The schedule is as follows:

1. Short talk
2. 20 minute meditations followed by a bell to indicate
3. 10 minute breaks for walking meditation OR
4. The breaks are for washroom and/or taking a drink of water or tea
5. Please make sure you are sitting when the bell signals to resume
6. The bell will signal that it is time to resume meditation.

Make sure that you practice mindfulness of breathing, and do as little moving around as possible.

Please refrain from drinking water/tea during the sitting period.